Immigration rights and labor activists will hold several events to commemorate International Worker’s Day, also known as May Day, in Los Angeles tomorrow, May 1.

Several groups have set up meeting spots throughout the county, where they will focus on their main issues, before meeting up with one of two larger marches taking place during the afternoon in Downtown Los Angeles; one kicking off at 1 p.m. and the other at 4 p.m. and then join up with one of the two larger protest marches taking place events are also planned throughout the county.

The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA), in collaboration numerous organizations, including the Multicultural Immigrant Worker Organizing Network (MIWON), ANSWER Coalition, Center for Community Change, CARECEN, COFEM, and others are coordinating the event at 1 p.m., which will focus on the urgent need for good jobs, good education, world peace and immigration reform, according to CHIRLA’s press release.

Marchers will gather at Olympic Blvd. and S. Broadway and head down North on Broadway towards First Street. A rally at the end of the route will begin at approximately 3:30 p.m.

As in years past, the march will once again call for reforming the nation’s broken immigration system.

“At a time when one million, five hundred thousand people have been deported during the past three years, the human crisis this represents will be represented by marchers through t-shirt, poster, and banner messages,” according to CHIRLA’s press release.

Activists will also encourage recently naturalized citizens to register to vote and visit the polls on Election Day.

The second march is being put on by the Southern California Immigrants Rights Coalition—comprised of numerous organizations including United Teachers Los Angeles, LULAC Foundation Latino Roundtable, Hermandad Mexicana Nacional, Brown Berets and Bus Riders Union— will start at the same intersection of Olympic Blvd. and S. Broadway, at 4 p.m.

Their message is focused on the need for full legalization and driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants, an end to ICE raids, and saying no to a guest worker programs.

According to www.occupymay1st.org, there will be specific protests, caravans and group rides from “four winds” that will feed into the marches and rallies:

In solidarity with workers rights, East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice, Pacoima Beautiful, Communities for Better Environment, La Causa, and others South East LA communities will have a bicycle caravan and meet at Olympic Blvd & Atlantic Blvd at 11:55am, according to their event, “May Day Bici-Marcha” announcement on Facebook.com

The cyclists will travel down Olympic Blvd to downtown, they anticipate their arrival at 1:00 p.m. Bell Gardens cyclists are encouraged to ride down Atlantic Blvd to join the group ride.

Image from la.streetsblog.org

Eastside Café, located at 5469 Huntington Drive North in El Sereno, will hold a daylong May 1st General Strike for people who won’t be able to make the caravan to Pershing Square. The day’s events include discussions on immigration legislation updates, proposed education cuts, fighting foreclosure. There will also be entertainment such as music and poetry. Activities begin at 7:30 a.m. and end at 8:00 p.m. for details visit http://eastsidecafeechospace.blogspot.com/ or call (323) 697-5876 or (213) 304-5424

Self Help Graphics & Art will also hold an independent event related to the May Day observance. They will open the exhibit “Jornalero Papers Premiere & Dialogue” at 4p.m., program is from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. For more information visit www.selfhelpgraphics.com

In addition, Metro has announced its bus service in downtown will be detoured due to the marches between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.